Can Strawberry Seeds Upset My Stomach?

Diane Marks

About the Author:

Diane Marks

Diane Marks started her writing career in 2010 and has been in health care administration for more than 30 years. She holds a registered nurse license from Citizens General Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts in health care education from California University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in health administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

A close-up of a bunch of strawberries.
(Image: Moussa81/iStock/Getty Images)

Strawberry seeds will not upset your stomach, unless you’re allergic to strawberries. Each strawberry contains seeds on the outside of the skin that are consumed without any complication. If you develop an upset stomach from eating strawberry seeds, you need to talk with your doctor to determine the cause. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that strawberries are a common food allergen that can trigger a wide range of symptoms shortly after consumption. Avoid eating strawberries and strawberry seeds until you can be seen by your doctor.

Strawberry Seed Allergy

If you’re allergic to strawberries, you’ll also have an allergy to the seeds. Besides, it is very unlikely that you’ll consume the seeds without the fruit. An allergic reaction transpires when you eat strawberry seeds because the immune system mistakes the proteins in the seed as harmful to your body. The immune system responds by creating immunoglobulin E antibodies that attack the strawberry proteins, according to MayoClinic.com. The production of these antibodies triggers mast cells to create histamine, which causes inflammation and swelling in soft tissue.

Stomach Pain

The digestive system is one of the first systems in the body to develop symptoms from a food allergy because it’s the first system to interact with the food. Histamine released in the digestive system will cause inflammation, leading to cramping, pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Stomach pain from an allergic reaction to strawberry seeds will last for a few hours. Once the proteins from the fruit seeds are expelled from your body, the stomach pain will subside. You may also develop other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, hives and dizziness from the allergic reaction, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Intolerance Consideration

It’s possible that upset stomach may be a sign of food intolerance. You can have intolerance of any food. Intolerances are different from allergies because they’re not the result of an immune system reaction. If you’re intolerant to the seeds of strawberries, your digestive system cannot break down the proteins found in the seeds. This causes the seeds to go undigested until they reach your colon. In your colon bacteria interact with the seeds, causing increased gas, bloating and nausea.

Warning

If you develop upset stomach, along with the inability to breathe, lightheadedness, facial swelling, an increased heart rate, a drop in blood pressure and mental confusion, you need to call 911. These are signs of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which could result in death.